Doffer.



BEST AVNLABLE COPY H. D. COLMAN.

DOFFBB- APPLIOATIOI rum: 110v. 1, 1910.

1,044,993. Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

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DOFFEB.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7,1910. 1,044,993. Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

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BEST AVAILABLE COPY UNITED STATES PiTENT OFFICE.

HOWARD D. COLMAN, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HOWARD D. COLMAN',LUTHER L. MILLER, AND HARRY A. SEVERSON, COPARTNEBS DOING BUSINESS ASBABIBEB-COLMAN COMPANY, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

DOFFEB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

Application filed November 7, 1910. Serial No. 590,970.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD D. Commas, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dotl'ers, of whichthe followin is a specification.

This invention re ates to machines for replacing full bobbins onspinning frames with empty bobbins, and particularly to a dofler of thetraveling type, that is to say, a dotting machine adapted to'travelalong the front of the spinning frame to doll and don bobbins insuccession. It has been proposed to propel the dofi'er along the spinninframe by means of a inion on the do er meshing with a rack ar extendingalong the front of the spinning frame, but this method of propulsion, asheretofore practised, involves difficulties arising from the fact thatthe spindles on a given frame are not always spaced a uniform distanceapart, ant. from the further fact that the dofier is intended to operateupon a number of spinning frames, each of which may differ slightly withreference to the spacing of the spmdles.

It is the object of this invention to provide means for sensitivelycontrolling the traveling movement of a dofier, whereby the difiicultiesalluded to are obviated.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a fragmental front elevation ofa dofler embodying the features of my invention, the dofler being shownin o erative relation to a portion of a spinning rame. Fig. 2 is afragmental section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 2, theview being taken substantially in the plane of dotted line 4 4 of Fig.2. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views showing different positions of thesensitive feed-controlling means.

My invention may be applied to traveling doffers of various types. Byway of exam le, I have shown a dofler comprising a rigid framework orcarriage consisting in art of twonJiright members 1, a middle bracket 2,an" a lower bracket 3. Said framework may be supported upon the s inningframe for traveling movement t erealong by any suitable means, as, forexample, a track 4 fixed to the spinning frame, grooved rollers 5carried by the dofi'er framework and arranged to run upon the track 4,and a bracket 6 carryin a roller 7 arranged to bear against the %orwardedge of the lower flange 8 of the spindle rail of the s inning frame.

The mechanisms 0 the dotfer are actuated and the dofier caused to travelalong the front of the spinning frame by any suitable means, as, forexample, a horizontal shaft 9 supported in the bracket 2 and having ahand crank 10 fixed thereto. A vertical shaft -11 1S 1ournaled insuitable hearings in the dofl'er framemork, two of said bearings beingshown in the drawings at 12 and 13. Sand vertical shaft is connectedwith the hor zontal drive shaft, in the present em bodiment, by meansoftwo s iral gears 14 15 of equal diameter, the an e of the gear teethbeing such that the shzt 11 is rotated through one-half revolution ineach rotation of the shaft 9. Fixed to the lower end of the verticalshaft 11 is a spur gear wheel 16 by means of which motion is transmittedto the dofier-propelling mechanism. In this instance, the dotfermechanisms are actuated through one cycle of operation in each rotationof the hand crank 10, and the gear wheel 16 is rotated through a halfrevolution in each cycle of operation of the dofiing mechanisms.

The dotfer is arranged to be propelled along the front of the spinningframe by means comprising a toothed bar herein shown as a rack 17attached to the spinning frame in any suitable manner, as by beingformed integral with the dofiensupporting track 4. Cooperating with saidtoothed bar is a propelling element consisting, in this instance, of apinion 18 which is supported for rotation upon a stud 19 fixed in thebracket 3. The pitch circle of this pinion is somewhat greater than theaverage distance between spindles, say one-sixteenth of an inch greater.Fixed with relation to the pinion 18 is a ratchet wheel 20. A gear wheel21 is rotatably mounted upon the stud 19 and meshes with the spur gearwheel 16. The pitch circle of the ar 21 is one-half that of the gear 16.Fix to the gear wheel 21 is a disk 22 that carries a double awl orpallet 23, the teeth 24 and 25 of w ich are ada ted to engage with theteeth of the rate et wheel 20. A spring 26 tends to rock the pawl 23 tothrow the tooth Q-k into engagement with the ratchet wheel.

A bracket 27 is fixed to the bracket 3 and extends toward the spinningframe. In the rear end of said bracket is mounted a pivot pin 28 towhich is fixed a feeler finger 2%,)

arranged in position to be carried into contact with successive spindlebases (1 during the travel of the dott'er. Said feeler finger has arearwardly-extending arm 30. and to this arm is connected a coiledspring 31 attached at one end to the lower side of bracket 27, saidspring tending to hold the feeler finger in position to engage thespindle-bases.

32 is a stop pin for limiting the action of the spring 31. The finger 29is free to swing upon its axis as the dofi'er travels until said fingersnaps off from the spindle-base into position to be engaged by the nextsucceeding base. A finger 33 is fixed to the pivot pin 28 of the feelerfinger and carries a projection 34 lying in the horizontal plane of alocking member 35 pivotally supported upon the pin 28. A torsion spring36 secured at one end to the pivot pin 28 and at its other end to thelocking member 35 tends to swing said locking member into its operativeposition, as will be presently ex lained. \Vhen the spring 31 swings theeeler finger 29 into the position represented in Fig. 2, the projection34: upon the finger 33 swings the locking member 35 out of operativeposition. A pawl controlling arm 37 is pivotally supported at 38 uponthe bracket 27. said arm having a cam surface or dwell 39 thereon curvedupon the arc of a circle concentric with the orbit of the double pawl23, as shown in Fig. 2, the entering end of said cam surface beingdefined by the shoulder 40. The arm 37 has a rearward extension 41 whichis notched at 42 to receive the end of the locking nember 35. A spring43 tends to hold said extension against a stop pin 44 and in position tobe engaged by the locking member. \Vhen the arm 37 is locked againstmovement, the shoulder 40 lies in position to be engaged by a projectiont5 upon the rear end of the double pawl 23, whereby the tooth 24 of saidpawl is lifted out of engagement with the ratchet wheel until theprojection 45 runs off the cam surface 39, when the spring 26 throws thetooth 25 out and the tooth 24 in.

In operation the doffer is actuated by continuously rotating the shaft9. whereby the pawl-carrying disk 22 is rotated through one revolutionduring the time that the doifer is traveling from one spindle to thenext. The manner in which the propelling mechanism is sensitivelycontrolled may best be understood by reference to Fig. 2, wherein thetooth 24 is shown as driving the feeding element 18 through the ratchetwheel 20. The feeler finger 29 has just contacted a BEST AVAILABLE COPY-spindlebase a but it may be assumed that the projection 45 on the pawlhas previouslv swung the arm 37 slightly so that the lock. ing member 35cannot drop into the not h l2. Continuing movement of the disk willcause the projection l5 to push the arm 37 aside (Fig. 5). and thus thepawl will not be affected by the engagement of the feeler finger withthat particular spindle-base: but by the time the dotfer reaches thenext operative position the feeler finger will have contacted thespindle-base before the projection 45 reaches the shoulder 40 (due tothe fact that the pitch circle of the pinion 18 is greater than thedistance between spindlebase centers) consequently the arm 37 will havebeen locked before the projection 45 reaches it, and said arm will throwthe feeding tooth 2% out and the feeding tooth 25 in (Fig. 6). The teethof the ratchet wheel 20 are so spaced with reference to the pawl teeth24 25 that at each shift from one pawl tooth to the other lost motionwill occur and the doffer travel will be suspended momentarily. Such ashift of the pawl teeth will take place when the projection *5 runs upthe shoulder 40 and again when said projection leaves the surface 39,the two shifts causing the tooth 2t to advance from one ratchet tooth tothe next. By reason of the retardation caused by the movement of thedisk 22 with relation to the ratchet wheel, the contact of the feelerfinger with the next succeeding spindle-base may not affectthe pawl.depending upon the spacing of the spindles.

It will be seen that the propelling mechanism tends to overrun, and thatthe feeler neans suspends the action of the propelling mechanism for amoment at sufficiently frequent intervals to keep the dofi'er in stepwith the spindles.

In Fig. 2. b indicates one of the vertical rods that operates the ringrail of the spinning frame. The presence of such rods does not affectthe travel of the dotfer, since the pawl 23 is at the side of the disk22 opposite to the arm 37 when the feeler finger 29 engages said rods.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination, with a dotfer for spinning frames. of mechanism forpropelling the dofl'er along a spinning frame. said mechanism tending tooverrun, and means for engaging portions of the spinning frame forintermittently suspending the action of said propelling mechanism.

2. The combination, with a' dotl'er for spinning frames. of mechanismfor propelling the dofi'er along a spinning frame, and means adapted toengage the spindlebases on the spinning frame for controlling saidpropelling mechanism.

3. In a dofler for spinning frames, a propelling mechanism compnsing arotary propelling element adapted to coact with an element on thespinning frame, a pawl and ratchet mechanism for driving said rotaryelement. and means adapted to engage portions of a spinning frame forshifting said pawl in relation to said ratchet wheel.

4. In a doffer for spinning frames, a propelling mechanism comprising arotary propelling element adapted to coact with an element on thespinning frame, means including a pawl and ratchet mechanism for drivingsaid propelling element, and a pivoted feeler finger adapted to engagethe spindle bases on a spinning frame for shifting said pawl in relationto said ratchet wheel.

5. In a dotfer for spinning frames, a rotatable propelling elementadapted to coact with an element on the spinning frame, a. ratchet wheelsupported to rotate with said propelling element, a rotary membercarrying two feeding teeth adapted to engage and drive said ratchetwheel, and means adapted to engage the spindle bases on a spinning framefor shifting said teeth alternately into and out of engagement with saidratchet wheel.

6. In a dofl'er for spinning frames, a retary propelling element adaptedto coact with an element on the spinning frame, a ratchet wheelsupported to rotate with said propelling element, a member mounted forrotation on an axis concentric with the axis of the ratchet wheel, adouble pawl ivoted on said rotary member and arrange to engage and drivesaid wheel, means tending to rock said pawl to place one of its teeth inengagement with said ratchet wheel. and means adapted to engage portionsof the spinning frame for rocking said pawl in the opposite direction.

7. In a doffer for spinning frames, a propelling mechanism comprising arotary propelling element adapted to coact with an element on thespinning frame. a ratchet wheel mounted for rotation with saidpropelling element, a double pawl supported for movement in an orbitconcentric with the ratchet wheel and arranged to engage and drive saidwheel, an arm adapted to operate said pawl. and means adapted to engageportions ofthe spinning frame for controlling said arm.

8. In a doffer for spinning frames, a propelling mechanism comprising arotary propelling element adapted to coact with an element on thespinning frame, a ratchet wheel mounted for rotation with saidpropelling element. a double pawl supported for movement in an orbitconcentric with the ratchet wheel and arranged to engage and drive saidwheel. a spring tending to hold one tooth of said pawl in engagementwith said ratchet wheel, a member located at one side of the orbit ofsaid pawl and BEST AVAILABLE COPY adapted to engage the latter to rockthe same against the tension of said spring, and means adapted to engageportions of the spinning frame for controlling said last mentionedmember.

9. In a doffer for spinning frames, :1 propelling pinion whose pitchcircle is only approximately equal to the average distance betweenspindles on a spinning frame. a rack engaged by said pinion, and meanscontrolled by the spinning frame for rotating said pinion.

10. In a dofi'er for spinning frames, 3. propelling pinion whose pitchcircle is slightly greater than the average distance between spindles ona spinning frame, a rack engaged by said pinion, means for rotating saidpinlon, and sensitive means for intermittently suspending the action ofsaid rotating means.

11. In a textile apparatus, a doifer framework, means for supportingsaid framework for traveling movement along a spinning frame, apropelling element carried by the doifer framework in position to engagea toothed portion on the spinning frame, and feeler means engagingportions of the spinning frame and controlling said propelling element.

12. In a textile apparatus, a doffer framework, means for supportingsaid framework for traveling movement along a spinning frame, apropelling element carried by the dofi'er framework in position toengage a toothed portion on the spinning frame, and means carried by thedotfer framework and adapted to engage the spindle-bases on the spinningframe for controlling said propelling element.

13. In a textile apparatus, a doffer framework, means for supportingsaid framework for traveling movement along a spinning frame, apropelling element carried by the doifer'framework in position to engagea toothed portion on the spinning frame, and a pivoted finger feelercarried by the doiter framework in position to engage the spindlebaseson the spinning frame and arranged to control said propelling element.

14. In a dofter for spinning frames, a dolfer frame, a vertical shaft insaid frame, means for rotating said shaft, a gear wheel fixed to thelower end of said shaft, a gear wheel mounted in said frame in mesh withthe other gear wheel, the pitch circle of the second gear being one-halfthat of the first gear, a pawl rotated by the second gear, a ratchetwheel engaged by said pawl, and a drifter-propelling pinion adapted toengage a rack on a spinning frame and having a driving connection withsaid ratchet wheel.

15. In a dofier for spinning frames, a doffer frame, a vertical shaft insaid frame, means for rotating said shaft, a gear wheel fixed to thelower end of said shaft, a gear BEST AVAILABLE COPY wheel mounted insaid frame in mesh with the other gear wheel. the pitch circle of thesecond gear being one-half that of the first gear. a pawl rotated by thesecond gear. a i ratchet wheel engaged by the pawl. a tlotferlpropelling pinion having a driving conneci tion with the ratchet wheel.and adapted to engage a rack on a spinning frame, the pitch circle ofsaid pinion being slightly different from the average distance betweenspindles HOWARD D. COLMAN.

Witneeses BURT A. PETERSON, LOUISE A. Convex.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,044,993, grantedNovember 19, 1912, upon the application of Howard D. Colman, ofRockford, Illinois, for an improvement in Dofiers, an error appears inthe grant requiring correction as follows: In the granting clause, line3, strike out the Words their successors or assigns, and insert thewords copartners, doing business as Barber Colman Company, of Rockford,Illinois, their heirs or assigns; and that the said Letters Patentshould be read With this correction therein that the same may conform tothe record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of March, A. D., 1913.

[SEAL] I O. C. BILLINGS,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,044,993, grantedNoyember 19,

1912, upon the application of Howard D. Colman, of Rockford, Illinois,for an irriprovement in Dotfers, an error appears in the grant requiringcorrection as follows: In the granting clause, line 3, strike out thewords "their successors or assigns, and insert the words oopartners,doing business as Barber- Colman Company,

of Rockford, Illinois, their heirs or assigns; and that the said LettersPatent should i be read with this correction therein that the same mayconform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of March, A. D., 1913.

[SEAL] I C. C. BILLINGS,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

BEST AVAILABLE COPY It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No.1,044,993, granted November 19, 1912, upon the application of Howard D.Colman, of Rockford, Illinois, for an improvement in Dofi'ers, an errorappears in the grant requiring correction as follows: In the grantingclause, line 3, strike out the words assigns, and insert the wordsoopartners, doing business as Barber- Uohnan Company, of Rockford,Illinois, their lmJrs or assigns; and that the said Letters Patentshould be read with this correction therein that the same may conform tothe record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this ism day of March, A. 1)., 1913. s

' 0. 0. BILLINGSE;

Acting of Patents.

[emu] "their successors or

